[420.1 the quarries of this county, commonly lies in thin ftrata; ſeldom exceeding four feet in thickneſs. The places cho- ſen for working it are generally hollows in a hilly country, and where a level to carry off the water can be command- ed. In that caſe the ſtratum of lime 15 perforated in the form of chambers, Laving thick poſts of the ſtone for ſup- port of the roof, which is generally freeſtone, and in ſome places 20 yards thick. Where the lime 1s very valuable, the whole ſtratum is fometimes worked out, and the roof ſupported by poſts or props of wood, in the ſame manner as coal is worked in the Shropſhire, or /0729-way, as the miners term it. Gun-powder is employed in the work, and the expence of courſe is conſiderable. The workmen are paid at a certain rate, per meaſure of ſtones turned out. The lime 13 burnt in draw-kins of one, two, or three eyes, and con- taining from 69 to 200 bolls of ſhells.--The pariſh of Bal- dernock is pofſefſed of a quarry, which is equalled in very few places. The upper ſtratum 13 a good clayey loam, deep enough for'any of the operations of agriculture: below that is 3 ſtratum of-an excellent peat-moſß, which makes good fuel;;t 35 about three or four feet in thickneſs: im- mediately under that 1s a bed of good limeſtone, ſeveral feet in thickneſs: that again is incumbent on a thick ſeam of excellent coal, which lies upon another ſeam of good limeſtone. No ſearch, ſo far as I know, was made for the ſubjacent metals. The coal was partly worked by mining, many years- ago. This valuable quarry is now worked in the ſurface way. The operations are carried on upon a good plan, the different materials are very good; they are al worked together: on the ſpot, and the coal 15 at hand to burn the limeßone. After the whole is finiſhed, the ground may» at a Very ſmall expence, be rendered.arable. A thick ſtratum of an excellent limeſtone has been long

worked in another part of the pariſh of Baldernock; but on 2 very bad plan. The tenants in the neighbourhood have 2 right to quarry from it what limeſtone they need. Being under no refßtraints, they open what part of it they

x plealt,